My Top Five Most Favorite Places in the World…So far.

Number 5

Boston, Massachusetts

Since high school I have traveled to Boston almost once a year. Whenever I stepped off the Amtrak train onto the platform in Boston, my mood would instantly change. I am just happy whenever I go there or think about going into Boston. Maybe it’s the accents? Or, the Sam Adams brewery? The T? The Red Sox? I don’t know, possibly a combination of all those things. Whatever it is, Boston comes in as number 5 on my list.

Number 4

Bermuda

Holy Shit are Bermudians nice people! You would think being 2 hours from New York, that New Yorker attitudes would somehow rub off on the people of Bermuda, thankfully the attitudes and dispositions of Bermudians are worlds away from that of the people of NY. And Holy Shit the island is just gorgeous! Manicured everything! Even the waves were picture perfect. Landscape alone puts this place on the list. The prices keep it out of the top three,  but number four is just about right.

Number 3

Rincon, Puerto Rico

I have been to Puerto Rico countless times throughout my life. Mostly to visit family and whatnot. Up until last year I had never traveled to the west side of the Island. I am so glad I had waited until I was older and would be able to appreciate the beauty of the West coast. Rincon, is an amazing place. A place where time slows down enough for the simple pleasures of life catch up to you. Watching the sunset wading in the ocean, while small reef fish swim around your toes, it’s heavenly. And don’t get me started on the bread. Pan de agua (water bread) is proof that god loves Puerto Ricans.

Number 2

Reykjavík, Iceland

The top two spots where tough to decide. I knew from the start of writing this list Iceland would absolutely be in one of the top spots. This is a country that should be on everyone’s travel list. As long as you can get over the rotten egg smell that flows out of every water faucet. Looking through my Iphoto library, it was almost impossible deciding which pictures of Iceland to use for this post, the landscape was just so vast and awe-inspiring. It is very hard for me to express why Iceland and Reykjavík especially, is one of my top favorite places in the world, it’s not because of the food I can tell you that much. Nonetheless, just go there. Book your flight today (you shouldn’t go there right now, only because of a certain volcano eruption, but as soon as the scientist say it is safe, book it.) You won’t be disappointed. No fear the people of Iceland are nothing like they were depicted in the Mighty Ducks movie.

Number 1

Dublin County, Ireland

Intoxicating. The first word that comes to mind when I think of Dublin. The people, the Bacon and of course the beer all of it, just intoxicating. Being one of the most expensive cities in the world does not keep it from being my favorite place in the world… so far. If the city life isn’t for you, you can simply hop on a train or bus leaving the city centre and head for the country side or the beach. No matter where you head the charm of Ireland will be there. Sitting in a real Irish pub drinking a pint of Smithwicks or Guinness just seals the deal for me. Ireland gets top spot.

Where in the world would you consider your favorite? Leave your answer in the comments.

Nature’s Christmas Lights

Merry Christmas everyone!

Seeing the Northern lights was one of the very early items added to my list. This is my favorite task so far. Here are the pictures of the Northern Lights. Kit and I spent a few very cold and windy nights out in the Icelandic country side to get to see it. Enjoy!

Hike On A Glacier

I am Bear Grylls Danny Rivera and I’m going to show you what it takes to get out alive in some of the most dangerous places on earth. I got to make it through a week an afternoon of challenges in the sort of places that you wouldn’t last a day without the right survival skills. I’m on the frozen wasteland of Solheimajokull Glacier, where I will be battling some of the most extreme conditions on the planet, pitting my wits against nature and showing you how to survive in a constant struggle against the elements. I have a few basic survival tools and my film crew Kit is coming with me.

Plagiarism aside Man vs. Wild has inspired a fair share of my list, almost as much as The Karate Kid. When I watched the episode when Bear spends a week hiking through the Patagonian steppe, I knew that hiking on a glacier was something I wanted to do.

From the warm comfort of our futon, Kit and I planed our loose itinerary for our upcoming Iceland trip. Glaciers cover over 11% of Iceland, whereas Greenland is covered by over 80% ice. So yes, for all the Mighty Ducks fans out there Greenland is covered by ice and Iceland is not. But in no way do I consider Iceland green, even the areas of land not covered by ice are barren. Iceland has few trees and even fewer green rolling hills. The biggest glacier in Iceland is Vatnajokull followed by Langokull, Hofsjokull and Myrdasjokull. The last being the smallest out of the bunch. Solheimajokull (rolls right of the tongue doesn’t it?) is an outlet glacier, at certain points 60 to 80 meters deep.

Our trusty little 2wd rental car handled itself gracefully down the pothole filled and flooding road. After what seemed like forever we reached the parking area at the foot of the glacier and met our guide and the rest of the group.

With crampons strapped to our feet, ice axes in hand and adorable wool hats on our heads we took our first wary steps on the giant ice sheet. Walking with heavy exaggerated steps we reached the first of the many features of the glacier. A moulin, basically a gigantic hole craved in the ice. Our guide explained how these holes were formed and lead us to a few more.

We crossed a few crevasses, which had my inner Bear Grylls very excited. The only problem was that my inner Bear Grylls doesn’t quite have the English accent down so the word crevasses wasn’t sounding as cool or dangerous when I said it to myself. Nonetheless we crossed them safely and after a few hours of walking and our guide answering all the stupid questions an English tourist had. We reached as high on the glacier as we were going to get for the day. We might have been able to get up higher if it wasn’t for the predominantly English group lagging behind.

The views of the mother glacier were incredible. When the sun finally peaked over a hill the glacier sheen a beautiful blue. The black volcanic ash was a stark contrast to the perfectly clear ice.

The glacier also tasted as good as it looked. I foolishly carried the extra weight of two water bottles not realizing that the glacier is a giant ice-cube and you can drink straight from it. All you need is the margarita mix and a blender and you got yourself a frosty drink.

The guide’s radio squawked and he was told to start us on our decent. But a tour is never over just because you’re on your way back.

We found a few small ice caves and tried ice climbing on a very formidable ice wall. Looking up from the bottom of the wall you can just barely make out the crampons of the rest of the group who had already ascended the steep wall. The summit of the wall taunted us below. Daring us to take the first few steps. If you stood quietly enough you could hear the glacier laughing at those foolish enough to attempt such a dangerous climb. The wall must have been an easy 40 to 50 meters high, but with the conversion rate and a dose of reality it calculated to about 6 to 8 feet tall.

I rammed my axe into the ice, kicked my foot in and established my first hold. I can see over the ledge now, I knew I had to dig deep inside myself to conquer this wall. I mustered all the courage and adrenaline I could and I kept kicking into the ice until I was a mere two steps away from joining the group at the summit. Then I slipped but the sturdy axe held in place. I dangled on the brink of death or at least minor injury, dug my foot in and recovered. Step after step my determination grew stronger until I was just about over the ledge. At this point I was ready to dig my teeth into the ice to get over the wall but I just had to pull myself up. Kit started her climb next and within a few seconds she was standing next to me. Show off.

The descent off the glacier was harder than the ascent, everyone was constantly tripping over their own feet as we cautiously marched back down. After the third time I almost twisted my ankle I started thinking to myself snapping an ankle now would be such a pain in the ass. Fortunately we made it back on the soft volcanic sand safely and with a new found respect for the awesomeness of nature and it’s ability to create huge mountains out of snow.

Some say within 10 years the glaciers of Iceland might be all but melted away in the sea. I’m incredibly glad I was able to stand on one when I could. Much to my surprise the smile on Kit’s face suggested that she too enjoyed completing this task on my list.

The full gallery of pictures is on flickr, here is the link.

New Items added to the List

I have added a bunch of new items to the List… including…

Ride on a Supermarket checkout conveyor

Preform with a rock band on stage

Take part in an extended race

Saddle up in a champagne glass hottub

Ride on a dog sled

Spend a night In jail

I have a few more updates for the blog before I leave to Iceland. Like put a lobster to sleep and the stories leading up to getting full cave certified. So keep checking back.